Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment

Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment removes up to 99% of dissolved salts, particles, colloids, organics, bacteria and pyrogens from your water. It also eliminates many chemical contaminants that a regular water filter cannot.

Normally, osmosis moves molecules from the side of a membrane with lower concentration to the higher concentrated solution until both sides reach equal concentration. This is the same process that makes desalination possible.

Reduces Chlorine

The first cartridge in a reverse osmosis water system removes large particles and some dissolved contaminants. This is meant to protect the membrane from excessive sediment and chlorine that could damage it.

Reverse Osmosis removes Chlorine by forcing the water to pass through a semi-permeable membrane at pressure greater than osmotic pressure. This creates an imbalance of solute molecules on the concentrated side and forces them to the less concentrated side, removing dissolved salts, organics, bacteria, and pyrogens.

Reverse Osmosis can also filter out heavy metals like lead, chemical impurities like herbicides and pesticides, and high levels of fluoride. You can test your water’s purity with a TDS (total dissolved solids) meter.

Reduces Fluoride

Fluoride is added to municipal drinking water systems because it strengthens tooth enamel and reduces cavities. However, too much fluoride can have detrimental effects on the body. Fluoride can cause gastrointestinal issues, bone/tooth problems and weaken the immune system.

Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment is able to remove fluoride because the semipermeable membrane filters allow only pure water molecules through. Other contaminants, like fluoride, are larger than water molecules and remain on the pressurized side of the membrane.

The reverse osmosis process is so effective that it has helped communities end boil water advisories and provide safe drinking water. It is important to have a reverse osmosis water filter system cleaned, sanitized and recharged annually.

Reduces Lead

Reverse Osmosis water filters use multiple filter stages to strip contaminants from your home’s water, including Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment lead. The system uses adsorption and ionic bonding to remove these harmful contaminants from your drinking water.

Reverse osmosis systems often require regular maintenance. Their semipermeable membrane can be susceptible to clogs. To prevent this, most RO systems include a carbon or sediment filter to help keep the membrane clean.

Another disadvantage of reverse osmosis systems is that they waste water. Studies show that many systems can waste up to 20 times more water than they produce. This is expensive and detrimental to the environment. Water waste also makes these systems less energy efficient.

Reduces Phosphorous

Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment systems use a semi-permeable membrane to separate water molecules from other substances. Osmotic pressure naturally favors even distribution, but with enough applied pressure pure water is forced across the membrane from the concentrated side to the dilute side and rejected contaminants are washed away in the reject stream (called brine).

A sediment filter removes large particles from your drinking water to prevent clogging and protect the system’s thin film composite membranes from damage. A pre-carbon filter removes chlorine since it is unable to be broken down by the membranes.

The reverse osmosis membrane separates water molecules from dissolved salts, organics, and bacteria down to the molecular level. The pure water passes to a pressurized storage tank and then goes through a carbon post-filter to polish the drinking water before it arrives at your faucet.

Reduces Chloramines

Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment uses a semi-permeable membrane that separates water from contaminants. This membrane filters down to the molecular level and removes dissolved chemicals, such as chlorine, that regular water filters cannot.

The membrane allows water molecules to pass through it, while blocking contaminants based on size and molecular charge. This is similar to how an air filter works.

Before the RO membrane, a pre-filter removes sand silt, dirt, and dissolved solids that could clog the membrane. Many systems include carbon filters that are especially effective at removing chloramines.

Reduces Arsenic

Arsenic is a toxic element that can cause skin problems and cancer. If your water has Trivalent Arsenic (Arsenic III), Reverse Osmosis can help remove it by transforming it Filling Machine Supplier to Pentavalent Arsenic (Arsenic V) that is less harmful and can be removed more easily from the body.

Reverse Osmosis systems push pressured water through a semi-permeable membrane which eliminates many aesthetic and health-related contaminants including arsenic. A pre-filter, carbon post-filter and reverse osmosis membrane work in tandem to eliminate most contaminant materials from your drinking water.

Zero waste RO systems divert reject water to another tap, typically the hot water tank, which is a great way to reduce your energy costs while you enjoy pure filtered drinking water at home or in the office.

Reduces Nitrates

Nitrates are a serious health risk for infants and pregnant women. They can cause methemoglobinemia and result in low birth weights.

A reverse osmosis system can remove nitrates from well water. It forces water through between 4 and 5 stages of membrane filtration under high pressure to filter out contaminants like nitrates.

The nitrates are trapped on the other side of the membrane and the fresh, clean drinking water is released into a pressurized storage tank. Some systems will also run the water through a carbon post-filtration process to remove any remaining aesthetic tastes and odors before it is dispensed. Ask a water treatment expert at American Home Water & Air to learn more about how a reverse osmosis system can protect your family’s health and improve the taste of your well water.

Reduces Sulfur

Water contaminated with hydrogen sulfide gas (which smells like rotten eggs) can be found in groundwater supplies and wells. It can also enter drinking water from sewage pollution and oil and gas refineries.

Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment reduces sulfur by passing the water through a semi-permeable membrane. This type of membrane allows molecules to pass based on their molecular size and weight, much like your furnace air filter.

Reverse Osmosis will remove sulfates and sulfite from the water but it will not remove hydrogen sulfide. Hydrogen sulfide is a gas and needs to be removed by other methods, such as an activated carbon filter. The reverse osmosis system usually comes with a sediment filter that should be changed on a yearly basis.